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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Marshfield had more than enough opportunities to extend its lead during the second half of its Wisconsin Valley Conference boys soccer game against Wausau West.
In the end, the Tigers’ inability to do so cost them a victory.
Wausau West’s Christian Roth scored with 3:55 left to lift the Warriors to a 2-1 win over Marshfield on Tuesday at Griese Park.
The win propels West (3-8-4, 2-3-3 Wisconsin Valley Conference) ahead of Marshfield (5-9-1, 2-5-1 WVC) in the conference standings and into fourth place.
Matt McCann scored 11:41 into the game off an assist from Austin Gilbert and Marshfield led 1-0 until early in the second half.
Blake Sherfinski tied the game for the Warriors 3:18 into the second half as his shot caromed off Marshfield goalkeeper Trenton Todryk in a scrum in front of the goal.
Despite dominating the ball, Marshfield was unable to regain the lead as shot after shot went wide or high of the goal.
“We worked the ball really well,” Marshfield coach Ron Todryk said. “In that first half into the wind we kept the ball low and had several nice crosses in players in open positions. Unfortunately, they didn’t go in the net.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow. There were a lot of good passes and combinations out there. It looked good, it looked promising, we just couldn’t get one away from the keeper.”
Roth tipped in the game-winner following a corner kick to the front of the net.
The Tigers had a couple of chances to tie the game in the final minutes but couldn’t get a shot past substitute goalkeeper Kevin Ruhl, who entered the game with 5 minutes to go following an injury.
Marshfield has four conference games remaining, including one Thursday at Wausau East, and three games this weekend in the Marshfield Invitational to prepare for the playoffs that begin Oct. 9.
“They’re starting to loosen up and learning to shoot now. We were in a slump where we were getting 10 shots a game. Last weekend we shot the heck out of the ball, tonight we had 20-24 shots. They have to be placed better, away from the keeper and make him earn a save if he’s going to get one.”
Warriors 2, Tigers 1
Wausau West 0 2 – 2
Marshfield 1 0 – 1
First half: 1. M, Matt McCann (Austin Gilbert), 11:41.
Second half: 2. WW, Blake Sherfinski (Jake Adams), 43:18; 3. WW, Christian Roth, 76:05.
Records: Wausau West 3-8-4, 2-3-3 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 5-9-1, 2-5-1 WVC.